The Proposal Free Audiobook Download by Mary Balogh

The Proposal is a historical romance by Mary Balogh, set in 18th-century England. The novel is narrated by Rebecca De Leeuw and tells the story of Lady Julia Mallory and her matchmaking efforts to help her sister find suitors.

I have recently read The Proposal for the first time, and I found it to be a wonderfully entertaining story. Mary Balogh's writing is exquisite, with a lively essence that makes this book almost impossible to put down. While reading, I—as well as the main character herself—felt deeply entrenched in the world of privilege and romance, which may not be everyone's cup of tea but was certainly mine. In the end, I could understand why the story works so well because it is set during an era where women were expected to marry based on their social class and need to produce heirs. This novel really captures what marriage would have been like during this time period while still remaining engaging by being told from multiple characters' perspectives.

In this delightful story of two people who are brought together, Mary Balogh takes readers on a whirlwind journey from the beginning to the end. As the title suggests, one of these characters is proposing marriage. The other, Miss Gwen Winthrop, is a widowed woman who has lived her entire life in London with her family and never had any aspirations for anything beyond that. When Mr. Max Carrington comes into the picture as a potential suitor, he soon becomes engaged to Gwen in order to save his own inheritance. This book is written in such a way that it doesn't have to be read linearly; instead it can be done as a audiobook which makes it all the more enjoyable.

The Proposal is a story of love and redemption. Mr. Farquhar has been engaged to Miss Justina Mason since they were children. One disarming night, he proposes to her with all the fervor of a man in love and she accepts. As his parents help plan their wedding, Justina goes through the motions trying to please them but no matter what she does, something's just not right.

Rebecca De Leeuw does a fantastic job of voicing the heroine, Mary Balogh. She has an authentic British accent, and she really captures the British mannerisms that make this such an enjoyable read. The music is also well-done and makes for a great listening experience.

Book Description: "Lieutenant Lavinia Hale is the proud owner of a Downton Abbey-style home, filled with loving servants and fine furnishings. Five years ago, she and her husband were on top of the world when they made their marriage proposal in this very drawing room. But now he has died, leaving Lavinia to rule his estate as a woman among men. A handsome young artist, George Markham, captures her attention--and imagines her as a beautiful woman rather than a dowdy one. As George's growing feelings for Lavinia threaten to blossom into scandalous love, she must decide whether or not to leave England and start a new life in America."